The Commerce Ministry’s proposal for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address an investors’ meet during his visit to the U.S. in June has allegedly been turned down by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Mr. Modi, using his oratorical skills, could quell fears being perpetuated during the U.S. Presidential election campaign about immigrants, including those from India, snatching away opportunities from Americans, the Commerce Ministry had suggested. The MEA, however, cited the sensitivities involved in the Prime Minister plunging headlong into the already “highly divisive” Presidential campaign in the U.S. and the possibility of the strategy backfiring, government sources said. For maximum impact, the Commerce Ministry had proposed that the investor summit, which Mr. Modi would address, should have attendance from high-profile captains of industry from India and the U.S.
Indian contributionMr. Modi, during his speech, could elaborate on the significant contributions made by Indian companies and immigrants to the U.S. economy.
He could highlight the measures taken by the NDA Government to boost India-U.S. ties and draw attention to the steps taken by the Centre, such as liberalisation of foreign direct investment policy norms in several sectors and ‘ease of doing business’ initiatives, among others, to create opportunities for U.S. companies to invest in India, the Commerce Ministry had said. The MEA also cited paucity of time to organise a high-profile India-U.S. investor summit, the sources said.
Mr. Donald Trump – the likely Republican presidential nominee – had said that “the influx of foreign workers holds down salaries, keeps unemployment high and makes it difficult for poor and working-class Americans to earn a middle-class wage.”
